Wednesday, January 28, 2015

What's on my work table

Remember those Zentangles I started? Well..I decided I needed a carrying case for them. And when looking through my fabrics, I came across a needlebook kit I received from Charlotte Lyons.

I didn't need another needlebook -- but it was just right for making a book to hold my Zentangle squares and writing implements.

The outside is this beautiful red and green vintage quilt piece; I edged in in some matching thread and tied it with a piece of cloth ribbon that was also included in the kit. I just love it!

More little hearts...

I was going to decorate them more, but decided they looked adorable with some bright pink seam binding, crinkled and tied around each one.

This is a Valentine I made the other day for my dear husband.

Don't worry, he never reads my blog so it won't ruin the surprise!

I used an old cabinet card with a nice looking guy on it. He reminded me of my husband.

He clutches a cane or a stick of some sort, and at first I was going to glue a flower motif over it, so it looks like he's holding a bouquet. But then I got distracted when I decided to open up a tiny envelope containing a watch spring...and it came out so sweetly curled!

I attached it to the card using washi tape, and used the little envelope, too.

I really love how it turned out.

Here's what I did with some of those wooly hearts I stitched: I sewed a pinback on each and secured them with seam binding to packages of Conversation Hearts (Sweethearts)

It's far from perfect but I am still quite proud of it. Piecing is not my strong suit.Actually -- nothing that takes a lot of precision is.

Next I will begin embroidering fancy seams!

And...here is the completed cage doll.

Since I showed it to you last, I dry brush painted the "cage" pink...

and hung all kinds of pretty findings to it!

The little watch parts vial is glass and I poured some glitter into the bottom of it.

Other danglies include a Scrabble tile with my initial on it, beads, various textile trims,

a tiny tag, a vintage bobbin...

buttons and a pretty chandelier crystal.

What do you think of my flower-y tablecloth? It is a thrift store find, by Ralph Lauren. I always love his fabrics. It matches my kitchen "green" very well and has lots of dark reds and purple in it, which is also a theme in my home. Best of all, it was 50% off and I got it for $1.98.

5 comments
:

Oh, Laurie, I love everything. You gave me an idea for the needlecase I bought from Suzy Quaife in NSW but haven't used. And the cage doll? OMG, it is fantastic. I love all the doodads you attached. This is just a fantastic piece of art. Keep up the great work.

I knew you would have some adorable Valentine hearts to show us.Also you cage doll is adorable, you gave me an idea to try to do that with my bed lamp cage doll? I like all your bobbles hanging from it.Remember the art piece I won on your blog once? the canvas with hearts on it? That will be my valentine decor for this year.Your card is wonderful and I have a crazy quilt piece I bet I started 6 years ago LOL

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I'm passionate about pretty things and find beauty in shabby and well-loved stuff. I've never met an antique or thrift store I didn't like. And I love to rescue the old and forgotten and make it useful again. Come along and see what I've found and created!